Alocasia plant named ‘ALO2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Alocasia  cultivar named ‘ALO2’ is disclosed, characterized by dark green, glossy foliage with veins surrounded by silver shadows. Plants are very vigorous, forming many basal shoots, symmetrical in form and suitable for production in commercial 6 or 8 inches pots from a single tissue culture plantlet. The new variety has closely overlapping cordate leaf blades and thick, contrasting light pink petioles with green streaks. The new variety is very easy to grow under low and high light conditions and well as low and high temperature conditions. The new variety also has exceptionally long 6 month shelf life. The new variety is an  Alocasia , typically produced as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Alocasia hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘ALO2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. Theobjectives of the planned breeding program were to develop new Alocasiavarieties of small to medium size, with rapid, vigorous growth, earlyand strong basal branching as well as columnar growth, suitable for 6-8inch commercial pot production. The inventor additionally sought newvarieties with interestingly ornamental foliage, and colorful, stronglycontrasting leaf peduncles and long shelf life. The new varietyoriginated from a cross pollination of an unpatented seed parentreferred to as ‘Aurora’ and the pollen parent, the unpatented, varietyof Alocasia known as ‘Polly’. The crossing was made during May of 2007.

The new variety was discovered by the inventor, Marian Osiecki, acitizen of the US, in October of 2008 in a group of seedlings resultingfrom the crossing. The new cultivar was found in a commercial greenhousein Altha, Fla.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘ALO2’ was first performed at acommercial laboratory in Altha, Fla. by tissue culture on Mar. 3, 2009.Subsequent propagation by tissue culture has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ALO2’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ALO2’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘ALO2’ as a new and distinct Alocasia cultivar:

-   -   1. Small to medium size, very vigorous, fast growing plant with        strong basal shoot production.    -   2. Symmetrical growth habit.    -   3. Dark green, very thick, glossy foliage with veins surrounded        by silver shadow.    -   4. Close overlapping, cordate shaped leaf blades.    -   5. Attractive, very strong, thick, pink petioles with well        marked green or brown streaks.    -   6. Very easy to grow even under low or high light levels, as        well in low or high temperatures.    -   7. Exceptionally long 6 months shelf life.    -   8. ‘ALO2’ is suitable for production in 6-8″ pots from a single        tissue culture micro cutting plantlet.    -   9. Strong plant, tolerates stressful conditions.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ALO2’ are similar to the unpatented seedparent ‘Aurora’ in most horticultural characteristics. The new varietyhowever differs in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘ALO2’ is a more vigorous and faster growing plant than        ‘Aurora’.    -   2. ‘ALO2’ is a shorter plant, in a 6″ pot it is 25-30 cm tall,        whereas ‘Aurora’ is 50-60 cm tall.    -   3. Plants of ‘ALO2’ have a more symmetrical growth form and are        narrower in diameter compared to ‘Aurora’.    -   4. Plants of ‘ALO2’ are less spreading, less open in form        compared to ‘Aurora’.    -   5. The leaf blades of ‘ALO2’ are smaller, darker green, thicker        and glossier compared to the larger, thinner, light green leaf        blades of ‘Aurora’.    -   6. Leaf veins of ‘ALO2’ are thicker, having a darker and broader        silver shadow than ‘Aurora’.    -   7. The lower side of ‘ALO2’ leaf blade of is glossy, burgundy        with some green area, whereas the lower side of ‘Aurora’ leaf        blade of is green and matte.    -   8. Leaf petioles of ‘ALO2’ are shorter, thicker and much        stronger compared to petioles of ‘Aurora’.    -   9. Leaf petioles of ‘ALO2’ are pink with well marked green        streaks where leaf petioles of ‘Aurora’ are darker pink with        very delicate green streaks.    -   10. ‘ALO2’ is a stronger plant, has a longer shelf life, it is        more tolerant to disease and stress conditions than ‘Aurora’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ALO2’ are similar to the pollen parent, anunpatented, variety of Alocasia known as ‘Polly’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics. The new variety however differs in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. ‘ALO2’ is a more vigorous, taller and faster growing plant        than ‘Polly’.    -   2. ‘ALO2’ makes basal shoots earlier and more abundantly than        ‘Polly’.    -   3. ‘ALO2’ is fuller, less spreading and less open than ‘Polly’.    -   4. Leaf blades of ‘ALO2’ are thicker, bigger, slightly lighter        in color, less glossy and have less silver color between veins        compared to smaller leaves of ‘Polly’.    -   5. Leaf veins of ‘ALO2’ have narrower silver shadow than        ‘Polly’.    -   6. ‘ALO2’ leaf petioles are pink with well marked green streaks,        whereas ‘Polly’ leaf petioles are light green to green color        with a few very light green streaks.    -   7. ‘ALO2’ is more tolerant to disease and stress conditions than        ‘Polly’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘ALO2’ can be compared to the unpatented species Alocasia amazonica.Plants of Alocasia amazonica are similar to plants of ‘ALO1’ in mosthorticultural characteristics. However ‘ALO2’ differs from Alocasiaamazonica in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘ALO2’ is a more vigorous and faster growing plant than A.        amazonica.    -   2. ‘ALO2’ is a fuller plant, makes basal shoots earlier and more        abundantly compared to A. amazonica.    -   3. Plants of ‘ALO2’ are shorter, less spreading, and less open        compared to A. amazonica.    -   4. Plants of ‘ALO2’ are much more symmetrical and narrower in        diameter compared to A. amazonica.    -   5. The leaf blades of ‘ALO2’ are thicker, much smaller, with        less silver color between veins compared to A. amazonica.    -   6. Leaf veins of ‘ALO2’ are surrounded by a narrower silver        shadow compared to A. amazonica.    -   7. The lower side of ‘ALO2’ leaf blade is burgundy with some        green area, whereas the lower side of A. amazonica leaf blade is        dark burgundy.    -   8. The leaf margins of ‘ALO2’ are green-silver and undulate        whereas the leaf margins of A. amazonica are bright silver and        lobed.    -   9. Leaf petioles of ‘ALO2’ are pink with well marked green        streaks whereas the leaf petioles of A. amazonica are light        green to green color without visible streaks.    -   10. ‘ALO2’ is a stronger plant, has longer shelf life, and        better tolerates disease and stress conditions than A.        amazonica.    -   11. Leaves of ‘ALO2’ closely overlap each other whereas leaves        of A. amazonica are spread.

‘ALO2’ can be compared to the commercial variety Alocasia ‘ALO3’application Ser. No. 13/986,615. Plants of ‘ALO3’ are similar to plantsof ‘ALO2’ in most horticultural characteristics. However ‘ALO2’ differsfrom ‘ALO3’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of ‘ALO2’ are shorter than plants of ‘ALO3’. Typically        plants of ‘ALO2’ grow to 45 cm in height, whereas similar aged        plants of ‘ALO3’ are 60 cm tall.    -   2. Upper foliage of ‘ALO2’ has a glossy appearance whereas        ‘ALO3’ has an upper surface which is matte to leathery in        appearance.    -   3. The petiole of ‘ALO2’ is shorter, typically 25 to 35 cm; the        petiole of ‘ALO3’ ranges from 35 to 45 cm

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘ALO2’ grown in a greenhouse in Altha, Fla. This plantis approximately 6 months old, shown in a 6 inch pot. The photograph wastaken using conventional techniques and although colors may appeardifferent from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurateas possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2001, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘ALO2’ plants grown in a climate controlledgreenhouse in Altha, Fla., USA. Temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25°C. at night to 25° C. to 32° C. during the day. No artificial light,photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. Plants were grown in80% shade, resulting in approximately 800 to 1200 foot candles of light.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Alocasia hybrid ‘ALO2’.

PROPAGATION

-   Root description: Thick, fleshy roots. Roots approximately 0.6 cm    thick, colored near RHS White 155A. Rhizomes observed: Approximately    1 cm thick, colored RHS Greyed-Red 180D and RHS Greyed-Red 179C,    both colors present.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Rapid, upright. Basal leaves emerge in clumps.-   Plant shape: Upright, petioles and leaves slightly arching out. No    stems.-   Height: Approximately 50 cm to top of foliar plane.-   Plant spread: Approximately 45 cm in a 6 inch pot.-   Pot size of plant described: 6 inch.-   Growth rate: Rapid, vigorous.-   Branching characteristics: No true branching. Leaves emerge direct    from base of plant.-   Number of clumps of leaves: 3.-   Number of leaves per clump: Average 4 to 8.-   Number of leaves per plant: Approximately 10 to 30.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 6 months.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single leaves emerging basally.        -   Largest, mature, fully expanded leaf.—Length (excluding            petiole): Range from 33 to 48 cm. Width: Range from 17 to            22 cm. Shape of blade: Cordate, with two very deep lobes            that angle toward each other with age. Oldest leaves have            lobes that slightly overlap. Aspect: Slightly undulating,            mainly flat. Puckered. Apex: Apiculate Base: Cordate, with 2            very deep lobes. Margin: Entire. Appearance: Upper surface            glossy. Lower surface glossy. Texture of top surface:            Smooth, puckered. Texture of bottom surface: Smooth,            puckered. Color: Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS            Greyed-Green N189A. Mature foliage under side: Background            color RHS Green 137B, heavily flushed RHS Greyed-Purple            187A.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—Pinnate.        -   Venation coloration upper side.—Outermost veins near RHS            Greyed-Green 192C, secondary veins near RHS Greyed-Green            193A. Center vein, RHS Green 137C.        -   Venation coloration under side.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187A.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—Approximate range between 25 and 35 cm.        -   Width.—At base: Approximately 1.5 cm. At leaf attachment:            Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Red 182C, moderately covered in short            stripes near RHS Brown 200B and Yellow-Green 147A. Near leaf            attachment, color changes to RHS Yellow-Green 145C, with            stripes becoming less frequent, then absent approximately 1            cm from attachment point.        -   Strength.—Very strong.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Other.—Petiole sheath present.-   Petiole sheath:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 7.0 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 3.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Deltoid.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Red 182D, moderately covered in short            stripes near RHS Brown 200B.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Immature foliage:    -   -   Length (excluding petiole).—Range from 10 to 18 cm.        -   Width.—Range from 5 to 9 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Cordate, with two very deep lobes, youngest            leaves less deeply lobed.        -   Aspect.—Slightly undulating, mainly flat. Puckered.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Cordate, with 2 very deep lobes.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Appearance.—Young foliage upper surface glossy, lower            surface somewhat glossy.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Green            N189A. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Greyed-Purple            N186A.-   Immature foliage venation:    -   -   Type.—Pinnate.        -   Venation coloration upper side.—Near RHS Greyed-Green 191C.        -   Venation coloration under side.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple            N186A.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Not observed to date.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Greater resistance than typical of Alocasia to    Myrothecium and leaf Phytophthora has been observed.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: The new cultivar is a typical    Alocasia, cold tolerant to approximately 5° to 7° C. and does not    tolerate drought.-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Alocasia plantnamed ‘ALO2’ as herein illustrated and described.